Dude, they're gonnay, Hello and good morning from Dodgers Stadium. The four
of us together again. It used to be an annual tradition. Then it
was not a tradition when the Dodgers open on the road. But we are
back on the field, Rodney, Matt Petros, gentleman. It is good
to see it. But I have to start with this before because I know
you've got something to say. I got nothing to say. Happy to be
here with everybody. It's a wonderful day here at Dodger Stadium. It's overcast.
Yeah, Matt's in a bad mood. Not a bad mood, terrible.
Don't do that. There's not a terrible way. I'm gonna fine.
I'm fine. I'm not fine. What happened to this? Are you pulling
the curtain back exactly? Because he came down? You know what he's gotta
face. And it's the security is crazy, all right, it's the Otani.
There's a ton of media, there's different checkpoints you've got to get through.
I thought I finally made it to the field. Tim Kates is maybe
fifty yards in front of me. He gets through. Clayton Kershaw's here for
God's sakes, My god, what a day. There's no my god,
No, I'm great. You never mind the adult that treated me like an
eight year old child and told me I had to have a lanyard in order
to access the field. There's Clayton Kershaw going to get us warm up in
Yeah, just when you think everything's down and the chips are really really against
you, you see Clayton Kershaw smiling at you, and you realize that God
in Heaven, we're blue Heaven again, my blue heuse right, you're looking
at our set though, I mean I remember in years past. Yeah,
it was a little bit more elaborate. Really. Yeah, Well we used
to have a ted on the big stage, the riga, the rig the
whole thing. And I think I guess they spent some money in the off
season over here, a little bit that they lost our tet in our rigs.
Well that happens, Yeah, that happened this place. But we're fine.
But I think since you started out this way, Fred, and it
is wonderful to be here. We're live from the field at Dodger Stadium.
It is the home opener. Glass now michaelas Morongo Casino Dodgers on deck with
Tim Kates from Vin Scully Sweet, which has been secreted by Dave Weeks.
Hey, sorry, I'm sorry. Starts at a one ten, so we're
looking forward. One first pitch is at one ten noon is when Tim Kate
starts, so we're looking forward to that. But let's start Fred with did
you have a hard time getting in here? Okay? I kind of walked
arm in arm with you like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. We were
greeting people. Yes, that's for getting our past issues. Yeah, you
got in. We had we had an easy time. Well, no,
I didn't have that easy a one time because what happened with me was,
you know, everything has changed this year, don't they know? You're Fred
Rogan of the Rogan Report out there in the desert. Tell you what that
I got a parking place at act Rashure Arena right now and you're on the
field Friday. That's what I'm talking about. Where's NBC LA not there?
All right? So anyway, I went to Lot B where the media usually
parks take it to the media overflow area of Garvey and they said, no,
you're You've got to go to Lot fourteen and getting a bus. I
went, well, that's not gonna happen. So then I I really told
you to get in the bus. That's it's not gonna happen. It's not
gonna happen. That's not gonna happen. No, I'm not going to Lot
fourteen and shut shuttle. Right. So fortunately Kevin actually sent me a parking
pass yesterday and Lot K, so that I went to a lot K and
then I schlept on in and then I ran into Petros parked K. That's
what I said, Is that that you fool? I said, you idiot.
I thought you had the like the the golden ticket where to park to
everybody the other day, I got the spot. I got the spot.
If you ever want to get in and out of Dodger Stadium, you'll follow
me, fin and out. I didn't end up to hell like a goat.
Listen. He was going to visit Heidi, that's seriously. And I
was like, what are you doing? Everybody knows there's not an attendant and
lot P. I didn't know, stupid idiot, right, and then Kevin
walked in through Gate G and I didn't know that. What happened to you?
Okay, here's your perfect spot. I'm gonna tell you the perfect spot
for Fred. You know he didn't swing the same puzza that he That was
fine, it's fine. I'm going to tell you the perfect spot. If
you're coming out here right now and you have to this lot. Yeah,
the guy in lock K is gonna tell you where to park. No,
this is the perfect spot. There's one spot at Dodger Stadium. If you
park here, it is the best spot you can have. Trust me,
I know. You park in the exact spot and you're out immediately, you'll
never deal with traffic. I don't care how long you stay. This is
a hell of a setup. Do you know what lot it is? Well,
I would assume it's Lot B. It's where you try to pay.
There's not Lot B. It is Lot F. That is correct. Where's
that? Okay? Well it's on the field. It's that way. Okay,
Well, listeners, center field. It's over there, all right.
So anyway, when you pull into Lot F, you will see a light
pole. Next to the light pole, there is one spot and then you
can't park next to it because it's blocked off. Come into Lot F.
Look for the light pole. I'm telling you, look for the light pole.
There's a rock that looks out of place, pull into that Spaffiti on
that light pole, and then and then make sure you you pull in so
that you immediately can just drive straight out and go. That is the best
spot at Dodger Stadium. What if by that light pole when you first pull
in? Done, Rodney, did you find any getting in here? Well?
No, I couldn't care about my lot. Now it's a terrible interest.
It's a terrible super Bowl. It's got what I said was true,
it's not interest. Okay, fine. I got here right as they were
setting up for security. I left early because I felt there might be some
traffic here. But uh, I got as they were setting up for security,
and I walked walked in and and then I was greeted by like seven
people asking for the credentials and what do you need? And you got to
show him every every five steps got to be in a lanyard. Gotta be
yeah, yes, you gotta. I did. I put it on my
iHeart lanyard. So I was able to get in. But but they were
also setting up breakfast, so I stole a breakfast burrito. Yeah yeah,
no one of those. And then they said I can't go down the regular
way to get to the field. I had to go a roundabout way.
Uh, but not so much trouble like you guys had. It was because
I think I was here early as they were set. All I know is,
if I'm gonna pull the card up, don't you know who I am?
It's not going to be the parking lot K right. I mean,
if you're going to be the jerk that pulls that, don't you know who
I am? Card? It better be somewhere better than lot hold that studio
fifty four Frand I didn't even suggest that. I just went where I was
attendance. Why didn't you let it like Lot D or something like that?
Right, Look, I ain't follow rules. Sure you know you don't.
You just talked about Lot F. Well, no, I'm telling how is
that breaking a rule? You're telling someone to park somewhere they shouldn't. Why
don't you tell us what happened to you? Matt? Why don't you tell
us your harrowing tale? I don't know how I serve. I don't really
because you did come in here, you were hot, everything was gray.
You are kind of dressed like a surf hobo today. You know the rest
of us. I thought, I you're a little surfo bo oh. I
thought. I was like, I put the song because it was kind of
Dodger blue Color, wanted the long Sleep, but you had the big wool.
And what that's because it gets told, Well, I've done enough of
these where it gets cold, so I had to bring the extra blue bands.
You're saying, it's my look that got me accosted. If you lined
up the four of us and said, which one of these guys is a
surf hobo? Yeah, maybe that's why I was accosted. The gentleman told
me I had to put my my pass on a lanyard. I held it
up right down here. Yeah, the entrance that you come in over here
through the clubhouse. Actually no, right over here. I would have come
in from underneath. And he's like, you can't come in this way.
I said, well why not? They said, because your pass is not
on a lanyard. I said, I don't have a lanyard, and Dino
Evil, good morning. Way to go, Fred, good reaction, Way
to go, Fred. I'm here now, but I'm here now and I'm
happy now. Well, that just doesn't seem right. I didn't have a
lanyard. And they let Fred. What I said when I came out here,
Rodney no pass on a lanyard. Fred had no pass on a lanyard.
You still don't have a pass on a lanyard yet, I was prevented
from coming on the field because my pass wasn't on a lanyard. I plan
on getting one. My pass was on a lanyard. When Fred and I
were at the gate, the guy tried to stop us and he's like,
we're gonna bring the dog through. And I was like, well, what
is he gonna sniff me or whatever? And now they are bringing the dogs.
We've got the swat team coming in there making sure that the dog house
is clean. And they they took about ten I mean if they if we
were gonna wait for them to bring the dog through, we weren't gonna get
on the air front. We would have started the show from those blue seats
right now. I want to check this guy right here. Well, wait
a minute. I hear when he said, oh, look at the dog's
coming. Oh god, okay, he said he was bringing something through.
I couldn't hear it was dog. I thought he said he's bringing the Dodgers
through. And that's why we had to stop the Dodgers. Yeah, college
football team, they don't just all show up at the same time and suits
Fred. It's not like they roll into the stadium and say a prayer on
the pitcher's bound three hours before the game. I mean, they're here every
single day. Maybe for Opening Day they do. They said they're bringing the
Dog through. But the reason we're talking about all of these new accoutrement and
the different ways to get into Dodger Stadium and with the big press conference a
couples word, now, friend, was that a big word that Matt and
I had a hard time, not a hard time, sourse. We didn't
have a hard time getting in on a Monday, We just we couldn't get
our credential. The line was so long for the media because of that press
conference that we just had to walk in raw dog. We snuck in and
just just depend on our facial recognition Fred Rogan style to get into the suite
to do the show. So it is a and we've been out here for
a decade, right, So it's been a very different vibe this year because
of the attention on the Dodgers this year, and I think it's something we
all expected absolutely global attention this year. You know, before the eyes of
the nation were upon you, now the eyes of the world. Yeah,
I'm making note of that also given you know, recent events that everybody I
don't know what you're talking about. Yeah, yeah, we'll leave it at
that. That's the only mention we'll have for that. I would say that
Kevin stuffed in right away. Don't do it. Would you say that?
Would you say that we woke up to find out that we are the eyes
of the world. Damn right? Because there is a lot of attention on
the Dodgers, and it starts in Earnest today with the season, the whole
Korea thing and getting the the games out of the way that were exhibition games
when they came back. Well, I mean it was stupid series. Yeah,
well we played before Korea. We would say that though about the about
the spring training when they would come here and play exhibition games. But apparently
the players like to get the dimension of their home stadium before they actually have
games in Earnest, so it would make sense to do that right before they
have games in Earnest. I guess it's something about the players, because I've
acted like that, like an a hole about it in the past spread and
I've been rebuffed by baseball times. Yeah, I don't know. I just
think that the Korea trip should have happened after after the Freeway series, yea,
and then you come right back and start to start the season like today.
So for instance career, it should have happened this past weekend and then
they get out here one. Yeah, it is weird to say the one
and one Dodgers versus the zero one zero card, right, It's a bit
odd. Absolutely, so you know the focus is here. And the starting
pitcher for Saint Louis had this to say, We're not his name, Miles
Micholas michaelas michaelas Michael. I mean we corrected you three times, befeven times,
petrol seven times. You're like my dad. I was at my dad
was you know what, he looks like a cop. It doesn't matter.
My dad was sitting with out of the eighties. My dad wasn't a lady
at the Little League, and he was like, what is your son's name?
And she's like Graham and he's like Edwin. I was like, where
where did you get that? Like Edwin? You know what's wrong with Fred?
We told you five times. It's michaelas well, you know what you
call what you want to call. He said this, like what is was
like, all right, listen, we're not exactly a low payroll team,
but you've got the Dodgers playing check book baseball, and we are going to
go out there and be the hardest working group of Midwestern farmers that we can
be out there. Yeah, if there's a series you want to win early
anytime of the year, it's great to go out there and stick it to
the Dodgers. If you can take a couple of those games, you're leaving
on the high note. You're a Saint Louis starting pitcher today. Who what's
his name? He gets just lit up, michaelas There you go, Fred
Miles, Michael, and a nice tip of the cap to the beach boys
there, you know, with the Midwestern farmers. Yeah, they're real Midwestern
farmers right at Saint Louis in their payroll pretty high as well, it is
top five. Yeah, yeah, what is he talking about? You know?
Bitter, bitter, thirty five year old. I'm sick of the bitterness.
I'm sick of the jealousy. It just started to Fred. I know
it's gonna be a long year for me. I guess it is one hundred
and sixty more games of it. Fred. You know what they say,
Fred puff Daddy said it. Oh money, you know, more money,
more problems. Fred. It's just how it is. There's going to be
an unprecedent amount of attention on this team. Somebody say, rate, I
didn't hear that. Regardless, regardless of the of whatever's happening now, controversially,
there was always going to be a tremendous amount of tension on this team,
and it's going to be interesting to see how they navigated, how Dave
Roberts navigates it. And I believe Dave Roberts is going to join us today.
I believe Andrew Friedman is going to join us today. And our two
media booked guests, and who knows who's going to walk up here and just
want to play grab ass with the four cooler. He's just gonna grab Kevin
figures is going to grab anybody he ses. But I believe David Vassey is
booked. I let Dino Eble get away, Fred went good morning, Dino.
Kevin didn't corral him bring him over here. That Dustin may out there
throwing it. It is the dirty hippie looking guy with that Yeah, yeah,
yeah, looks like Randy from MTV. I don't know who else.
It could be Randy and the Redwoods, old Danny Bonaducci. Yeah, a
little bit of that. Yeah. And we're also supposed to have Day Day
and John Paul Morosi. So the two media guys and the two baseball types
with the Dodgers managerial and front office, if a player wants to come say
hello to us, we would gladly welcome that. However, Den know Ebel
said he was gonna come by and say hello too, right, Dino Dino
coming over? Yeah, I don't think he is. Hello there you go.
That's a weird way to get a guest. No, that's very you
know, third base coach of the Dodgers. You know you were micd up
the other night. Yes, I was. How cool was that? Having
also having Eric Carroll's son on the mound and doing his thing. You know,
you get the runner on third base says this is a dream man.
How how good was that for you? Yeah? He gave me the chills.
You know, I've been in the game a long time and everybody knows
you come up here at Freeway Series, you get a chance to opportunity to
play and then to say it out loud off guard, but I'm like,
you know what, my friend, it is a dream. So I was
happy for him and and Carols too, you know, nerve wracking, you
know, that's why I asked them, Hell, how are you feeling now?
E K? But what a great night, you know. It's it's
been a good spring training finally over. It's kind of weird for me going
to Korea for two and then coming home finishing spring training, but it's over.
Everybody's healthy and is ready to go. Whenever we're here, we always
see you out here the earliest doing drills with guys. What are those drills
you're doing with guys, because that's the first time we saw it was when
you arrived here with the Dodger. Yeah, it's just a routine that we
put together guys. It's more hand eye coordination, get their hands going,
and then we take it out onto the field getting all the footwork in.
But uh, it's a routine that uh that I think it's good for the
guys, you know, just to be up close, see see the ball,
close work through the baseball and then you know, it doesn't work until
you move your feet. So then we take it out on there and get
some live fungos and the guys love it. We're just going to continue to
do it. You know, there's anticipation going in every season, but given
the excitement around this team, how does it feel or does it feel different?
You know what, it's always expectations here is always to win the World
Series. I signed here in nineteen eighty eight as a minor league player they
won the World Series. Sory used to preach to us, you know,
every year we got to win. But yes, there is a little bit
more this year. I feel we all feel it. You know, all
the big signings of Otani, I'm a Mota bring, you know Glass and
all the guys that we acquired. But you know it's, uh, we
prepared just like a normal year. It's a championship caliber baseball here. You're
in, you're out, and that's how we're gonna go about it. And
we're gonna just keep putting our foot on the pedal and keep pushing day in
and day out. You know you spoke briefly about it. How just ready
are you guys just to get the season started. Man, Yeah, we're
ready, you know, coming back from Korea. Uh you know, it's
like, you know, okay, now we got to finish spring training.
But the guys feel good, The routines are down, pitching is good,
are bullpin solid. So once we get you know, going today and get
this thing going, routines will start to happen. A daily routine, scheduling,
all that stuff, no more to it. Bat's ria batch. You
know, you get the rest of the night off. So now it starts
today. We're ready to go. And and I'm excited, you know always
opening day, it's a great day in baseball, and it's that clubhouse right
now. It's it's it's live. So it's I felt it when I came
in. It's good. So we'll continue to do it Selfish of all these
people, you know, to ask you to talk about other folks instead of
yourself, so let me be the one to ask you, how is your
broken finger? There's gonna be a lot of dongers hit at this field,
and there's gonna be a lot of high five and so how what is the
status of your broken right ring finger? And are you ready for a lot
of high fives? Yes? I am. You know, like I said
the other night, when Will came around, he tried to take it off.
But I hope they can. The more homers and coming around that than
the bases, I'll take the heat going on. In about three weeks now,
I'm about ready to start throwing. But yeah, the guys are having
fun with it, but I'm ready for them. I hope today there's seven
or eight of them that could come around and try to break the finger.
Again. We mentioned the Carrols boys, but what about your boys at Corona
High They're going wild out there. You want to do you want to tell
us a little bit about what they're accomplishing. That's got to be wonderful for
you. Yeah, it was. I got a chance to see the team
play yesterday. They won again, like whatever, thirteen to two. They
got dynamic pitching. They got four or five guys that are throwing in mid
nineties. They're gonna be a couple first rounders out of there. And my
two boys, you know, Brady's a junior, Trace sophomore. You know,
I just stay on them, get after it every day, get better.
You know, Corona High School any wise is a great developer, and
you know Joe Kelly's the one that was all over me in the beginning that
I made the right choice, and I know I did, so, Yeah,
it's a it's a good program. I think their rank number one or
I know they're one in California, and I think they're one or two in
the country, So gratulations. Yeah, it's fun. It's a target on
your back, but it's a good team that they compete, no different than
what Dad deals with up here. That's exactly right. So I'm happy for
that organization there in Corona. All right, Dodger third base coach, doo
Evil, you're the best. Thanks for having me, all right, coming
over, hanging out. Rodney just slapped the hand that right hand. I'm
getting ready, getting ready the great ladies and gentlemen. Why you know what
that worked out? Fred I was very skeptical about your your style of getting
him to come over. You know, you know that was a little but
yeah, Rodney, there's as Rodney's over there, and there's a reason Rodney's
over there at first base, you know, like he's gonna he's gonna receive
the ease them all in. They know Rodney better than this clubhouse that they
do us, even you, Fred. No local media down here today,
just us h that's right, No Crasca. Well, I'm not gonna keep
Jim Hill out of here? Are they going to do that? Kind to
tell brother Jimmy, we're going to offer a haircut first. Jesus. That
was a quote from Rodney Pete. That was not me. That was a
quote from Rot not me. Damn right. I think you know what the
hair The haircut sounds like with those old Velt pro shoes for back of the
day. Awful. We love you, Jim. All right. We're lying
on the field at Dodger State. No, what's coming down here? Whatever
we want. I'm just excited for a double breasted suit. We're long enough
and always what's going to do it? Friend always mentions Jim's beautiful suit in
Frances He got that in nineteen eighty two at the Malibu Clothe years on Beverly.
All right, we're alive with George Raveling opening day Dodgers Stadium. We'll
be back on seventy l I sport. Shut up, big, thank you
to Dino Ebles. We are down on the field and we'll be here until
noon. You'r home of the Dodgers and The twenty twenty four home opener is
upon us just hours away a one ten pm first pitch from the Galpin Motors
broadcast booths. Steven Nelson, Rick Monday will be on the call. No,
Charlie said he's got a bit of a back injury that he's working through
to start the season here out for the foreseeable future. Yeah, sad,
that's what it said on the Yeah, Segal did the old screw face to
him, just like hard to kill? Do you know what to me?
You want to see? I'm on FISS group. God bless Charlie. We're
thinking of you. Charlie hurried back, but yes, Steven Nelson tonight and
Rick Monday on the call. We will get there starting at noon with ten
Kakes and Marongo Casino Dodgers on deck. Between then and now, a raucous
four man extravaganza Rogan and Rodney, Petros and money and we're taking in the
sights. I've never seen a gigantic Japanese tour group all well, so just
walk right through. The Look at all these people up in the center field
and dressed to the nines, I mean dressed like they're going to Katillion.
It looks like church. I mean, I've never seen anything Japanese group.
I can't tell that from here because you're old, Fred, and you have
to. You have eyes that are blurry and milky. Robbie, can you
tell looks like money up there? Fred, not me, but a lot
of money. I know what you're saying. It's walking cat. Yeah,
walking cat. Well, you guys, I saw them walking through the concourse,
Fred. That's how I know his his suggestion that it's a Japanese tour
group is in fact correct. I watched them walk for the Dodger Stadium when
you if you had to make an assumption, Gel, not like we like
to do that often. But yes, did you guys see the Japanese stone
lantern that is uh that is displayed up by the Jackie Robinson statue out there.
Pretty cool. It was a gift from the country of Japan to the
Dodgers in nineteen sixty two and it's been collecting dust and a storage bin somewhere
in the basement here, and they took it out of the bowels when they
signed Otani and Yamamoto, and now it's on display right there up top right
in lot PET just like the suit you discussed, Fred, you have it
long enough and it comes back in stuff. There you go, that's the
stone Land, It's the chim hell of lanterns. Hey do you guys Rodney
and I kick this around. I'm just wondering because you know, we really
don't listen to you guys. But do you think they have to win it
all this year? Is that? Is that the deal? Huh? What's
that? Fred? But I was just wondering. You know, when you
look at the team, the stupid questions, I don't think I don't think
it's stupid at all. Is it? Is it championship? What do you
think I can get into the World Series of Five? Guys? Think you
can handle this? I'm gonna ask her about the challenge? Yeah? Can
you? Can you please? Can you please? Anyway? Weis is on
it is obviously Wee is always on it. Right. He did not let
a minute go by. We said it's gonna take about two minutes for Weeks
to be talking to her till he starts complaining about you know, his life,
Don Martin David Howard discussing over I just want to about Fred. I
was looking for an acknowledge. I'm just try a little recognition like, hey,
this is kind of cool right in front of me. Look what's happening
anyway, keep it moving, ocean hands. My point is this, I
think get unto the World Series is enough, but there are people that believe
they gonna win the whole thing that whatever, Fred, what you think we
care about that topic? My god, Fred, that's six months away.
Of course, it's starts today, don't you think it's all? Last year
was supposed to be a rebuilding year, and it was World Series of Bee
hundred wins and we all cried bitter bitter lemony tears when the Dodgers saw light
style tears in the first round, bitter beer face. It was a terrible
time. And that was supposed to be like a reset year. So this
year, yeah, it's World Series or bust. Absolutely, they have to
win it all or at least get there. It is World Series of busts
for Dave Roberts, and Dave Roberts a lot of pressure on him. All
of it is on him. You know, he wasn't mentioned in the contract
as far as who has to be here in order for him to be happy.
Freedman and Walter were, but not Dave Roberts. I mean he's been
performing year in and year out, and there's still a lot of pressure on
Oh yeah, it's all on him because everyone else is still going to be
here regardless. And it's all about Dave. Is Petrol's mentioned, He wasn't
mentioned as a guy that you got to check with me before you let him
go check with me. So it is it is and Dave, you know,
he's taken it in stride. But I don't even know now, Fred,
I don't think it's get there. I think you got to win it,
you know. And but but again, it is the third game of
the season. That's true. But I mean, this is when and it
feels like the first time. If I, if I may, Fred,
you may, if I may please? What about not going to answer your
World Series of Best question? First man, we're not gonna go round table
world, so we're not going to acknowledge that question. See, that's how
they are here. Tried to jerk the wheel because the lady that replaced us
at NBC walk by you tried to jerk the wheel and go to some weird
topic. Is that what that was? That's what happened. I was gonna
are we gonna she stole your jobs job. I wasn't. No, no,
no, no, don't realized that story on that. I didn't.
I have no idea. Who's all. Yeah, that's why we all just
got silent. We wanted to hear from Fred. Didn't know this, Miss
Garvey. I'd like to introduce you to the host of The Rogan Report.
You will not be doing a live shot, but he's doing. That's true.
Well, I didn't even know that, like me. Now you're saved
by the bellance right now? Are you too busy so you have a live
shot or something? Morosi, our dear friend John Paul Morosi is here from
the MLB network, Italian American Michigan Wolverine Harvard grad super pissed off that Yale
made it into the tournament. Yale represented the IVY League with a lot of
class and integrity, so congrats to the Bulldogs. Coach Jones. Well,
did you know about that Greek guy's last name man Pulaas? You know what
that means in Greek? Man, I don't know Petros, but you feel
free to educate. It's okay in the afternoon on our show, not okay,
Dodgergate to discuss what the slang term is. What was his name?
George? Yeah, George, George George. Anyway, good to see it,
John Pollit's opening day to you. It was an Italian word. You're
excited to be here? Obviously, I love it. Is this the greatest
opening day in the history of your baseball career, your long illustrious media career.
I would say so, because listen, this, this ballpark is magic.
I was saying this coming in with Dan Plea Sach Bob Costas is doing
the play by play for US today, and I will be network. Are
you the sideline guy? Yes, I'll be down. Okay, I'm excited.
So there is something magic about Dodger Stadium on opening day. And I've
been here for a handful of opening days in the past, but this place,
the setting, the lights, the weather, the matchup of course,
this historic team. When you think about what what we'll see today, the
first three batters for the home team will all be former MVPs. Of course
we know it's Joe A's Dodgers' home debut. And then Will Smith. Let's
not lose sight of that extension and how important Will Smith is to this organization.
So just for so many reasons, a very special day. And you've
got someone who grew up as a Dodger fan on the mound for the Dodgers
and Tyler Glastow from Hard High School. So there's just so many great storylines
today. Wow. Rostyles Michaelis had a little quote about the Dodgers him starting
to date. He called himself, they're midwestern farmers. We're just regular guys
coming out to play the big checkbook Dodgers. You think that's a sentiment around
the league about the Dodgers when the other teams look at him and they're playing
them like, Oh, they just spend money like crazy, and we're just
this small town team and we're looking to knock them off. Is that kind
of the sentiment that you think of Rescue Ronnie. It's a great question because
if you look at this team, we have not seen in baseball something that
approximates a Miami Heat of the Lebron, Bosh and Wade era. In terms
of the team that was supposed to win the Beatles right with a big payroll,
tons of superstars. We know this, It's hard to win in this
sport. There's a reason why we have not seen a back to back champion
in baseball since two thousand, since the Yankees, It's been a quarter century
since we've seen a team win back to back, which I think just speaks
to the journey and how difficult it is. Rodney and I also think that
the Dodgers, and you think about show A joining this organization, and you
all know better than me. In terms of rivalries within the National League,
the Angels don't really have any rivals that dislike them in the same way that
the Padres and Giants dislike the Dodgers. Let's be real, thats just what
it is. And so as show A goes on the road and plays in
different ballparks, he's gonna hear negativity unlike any that he's ever really heard before.
You think last year for him, when he went around the road,
he was getting cheered because different basis wanted him to come sign and play for
them the next year. It's not gonna be that way this year. So
I think it's you're right, there is going to be some negativity. Let's
and let's also not forget the Cardinals. As much as they had a a
bad season last year, the finished in last place, They're still a good
ball club and the guy at third base who's from around here is going to
the Hall of Fame. The guy at first base is gonna go to the
Hall of Fame too. So let's not lose sight and said this is this
is not the Washington Generals and the lootronners here. This is a very solid
major League team that I think has a little bit of a chip on their
shoulder. To your point, a lot of other teams will the Michaels story
or is cost Is gonna steal it? Your first years got to be the
michaelis so don't let cost to steal it. I would say that. So
for for a story like that, Petros, you've done a lot of TV,
typically the person who has the most Emmys gets to do the story.
I'm sitting on a beautiful gooseg in that category. So I would say that
that story, as all stories are, Bob's, as long as he wants
it. Well, what kind of scraps are you gonna get? What are
you gonna have to talk about? What? Do you have a couple things
on the Cardinals? First of all, how about the story our researcher from
the network, Kevin Dillon, A great note here the Cardinals likely today will
have four position players who are twenty three and the younger, including Victor Scott
making his major league debut for West Virginia University in in center field. So
his first ever major league appearance is on this day in this scene. So
you've got four players him, him, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and
Mason Wynn playing shortstop. Four guys twenty three and younger. The last time
the Cardinals in a season opening game had four position players twenty three and younger
was one hundred years ago nineteen. Set it out loud. Costas is gonna
take it to which I say, Bob, please do. He's he's by
teammate, he's a Hall of Famer, he can take whatever notes he wants.
You mentioned the Will Smith contract, John Paul. Is there a sentiment
around the league as we look around and now we're starting to see the Guggenheim
logos, you know, on the step in repeats and throughout the stadium.
Do they have the financial not just the money to spend, but are they
figuring things out that other teams can't quite figure out about deferred money and pushing
money here and doing contracts like this the way to avert a little bit of
the CBT. Are they ahead of the curve on that front, kind of
like the Warriors were for a little bit there at Golden State. I think
so, and I think Matt. For me, it only works if there's
a tremendous willingness on the part of ownership to spend, which the Dodgers have.
Clearly, when you think about how much they've invested in this club,
they sign Otani, which for any number of other teams would be their entire
offseason for years to come, and then it was a couple of weeks later
that they signed yamamotos So clearly this team is not gonna stop with each incremental
investment. To your point, Matt, I do think there's an understanding by
the way that the Gougenham the Guggenheim Group works, that you spend money to
make money. There is value in marketing, there's value in winning, there's
value in bringing fans in the ballpark. At the end of the day,
you'll look at this team's attendance this season, probably going to be the most
in baseball, might well set a Dodgers record. That's how you especially now
in this new streaming universe, this is a team that fans around the world,
not just the country, around the world. I just I was on
the trip and Soul we talked from there. It's amazing how many Dodger hats
I saw there. There's a value in that. And I think that the
way the Dodgers look at their brands, it's building a brand. It's putting
the logo out there in a way that Roddy looks pretty wearing that the hoodie
as well, Like there's there's a reason why people love Dodger Blue. And
I think that we're seeing that the investments that the teams are making right now,
and the Dodgers to me, stand alone uniquely among them. John Paul,
you mentioned how young Cardinals were going into and that's a very good fact
toy. You should keep that, not give it a cost. But given
what you said, I sat here and was thinking, and do you agree
with me or not? They're very young, a lot of guys making their
major league debut. I think the Dodgers will kill them today. What do
you think I think Brett he's calling the game. First of all, First
of all, I have no idea nobody I love not predicting him because my
track record I'm predicting who's gonna win the World Series is not terribly good,
so I almost refrained from doing that. Here's what I think though, in
general, the Cardinals and all teams that played the Dodgers, and Rodney knows
this from playing the game, is as he did you. Baseball is the
one sport that you cannot play better by trying harder. It's different. It's
different than hockey, different than hoops, different football. You cannot play better
by trying harder. You really can't. In some ways, it's counter productive.
So every game the Dodgers play this season, with maybe very few exceptions,
we will say they're supposed to win. And I think that the Cardinals
will benefit this youthful energy with Scott and center field and win it short.
They're gonna run the bases, they're gonna take some chances, and I think
a lot of teams this year will benefit from being able to play a little
bit of an aggressive style of baseball. The Diamondbacks haven't forgotten that from last
year when they swept the Dodger from the playoffs and they made it to the
World Series. The Padres, I believe are a better team than they were
a year ago. So I think these lofty projections of one hundred and ten
wins, I don't know. I can't quite get there for the Dodger,
I really can't. I think it's there. They're gonna be in the playoffs,
clearly, but they've got a much tougher road than a lot of people
think. We saw them split in Seoul. The second game kind of got
on a hand a little bit. I think the Cardinals have a very good
chance to win this ball game today. You worried about Yamamoto. You were
out there, you show a little bit. I believe in his ability,
though, I mean he's to me, we've seen him succeed international. That's
where I always kind of chuckle when players come over, and sometimes the old
media ligne was all, do they know how to handle MLB pressure? Well,
they know how to handle the pressure their entire country watching them play for
the national team and in in NPB, which in some ways is for them
and their hometown in their home country is even greater than what they experienced here.
Yes, the money is higher here and the stakes at the competitive level.
I get it, but they felt pressure before, and so I don't
worry about the pressure being too big for him. I think he's got to
learn a little bit about sequencing in in Major League baseball, how it's different,
how the Major League hitters look at things differently. Once he gets that,
I think he'll be just fine. But don't I would say, don't
make a judgment based on his first started Dodger Stadium or even the first month.
This is a long term relationship for him, and I think he'll get
better as the year goes along. Do you have a series of lanyards that
you strategically Samurai Samurai for the opener of today? Why? Why this lanyard
today? JP? So this actually is my lanyards for the season. I
got this. I was thinking about this five years ago. I covered the
premiere twelve in Japan. I was at the Tokyo Dome. You want to
talk about atmosphere and rivalry. A Japan versus Korea gold medal game with fifty
five thousand people in the stadium at Tokyo Dome as special. So this is
just a nod to what Japanese baseball has presented to me in terms of what
I've learned by covering Japanese players and being around the game a lot and so
this is a little bit of an homage. It's a special day, special
day for show A Yamamoto here as well, of course, and let's remember
this too, Miles. Michaelis on the mound. He restarted his career by
going to pitch in Asia and then come back. So the international nature of
the game is I think on vivid display here today at Dodger Stadium as it
always is. Take ownership of that, michaelas story. John PALMERROSI the best.
We don't deserve all that time you're on TV today. Thank you so
much, MLB Network, John palm Morosi a wonderful writer and person, and
we really thank you JP. Thank you, Piachettimo. I'll put them at
Petro so we'll do it next time. You love it. Thanks guys,
pleasure and you know, hey, Ferrari won the F one race. JP.
That's gonna be pretty good for you. Yeah, that Tofosi. Very
happy that man some sunscreen sun was cooking the back of our necks. And
Don Martin has arrived our boss. Thanks Chris matching, sir, look at
him, matching belt and shoes clean, gorgeous. Jess. I just came
from the cobbler, Okay, you look, you're shining like a new pin.
Just beautiful. Look at the stitching on those jeans shoes as a bar
the shoe game is working. Beautiful. That's what Kevin Costner wears when he's
like, you know, I think I'll have some wine and a nice you
know, a nice dinner, a nice yeah, you know. That's what
Costner wears, yeah, wearing. We'll be right back with mar We are
live from Dodger Stadium. It's Fred Rotney, Matt money Smith and me and
we are at opening day. Tim Kats takes over at noon. We don't
have to go home, but we can't stay here when the game starts.
Earth Siri ad your jacket and we are back live on the field of Dodgers
Didium opening Day. All four of us are here. We don't do it
very often, but it's always fun when we doime. We appreciate John Paul
Morosi stopping by Great Insight. He'll be doing the reporting from the field today
for MLB's coverage of the game. Bob Constas will have the play by play
there. We thank Dino Eble's already stopped by the program. We've had Dino
Ebel, We've had John, Paul Morosi, David Vasse, who's going to
be on and be part of Marongo Casino, Dodgers on Deck and do an
extended Dodger talk tonight all the way till seven o'clock. Is uh. They
have roped us in already too. They have roped us in. Now.
This is a much more media controlled environment than any many of us have ever
experienced. And we've been down here pretty much every opening day for the last
ten, eleven, twelve years, and I would say this is pretty different.
Yeah, it is. No at least we were told nobody can go
live in the field. So they're all set up kind of down near the
third base area and they're groped in. They can't get near the dugout this
year. That's unusual. Why, I don't know. Maybe you're all looking
at it. U's like, how you guys get down there because we're goin
the world, because we're cool. We just Tim Kates went by work this
morning, paid attention to detail and got us Mike flags and that makes us
legit. Look at these Mike flags. Oh, they're very cool. Wait
to go, Katzie. Yeah, you know what I think. I think
out of a spot look at that. The crush of media is going to
be so great this year, the media crush of the crush of media,
it's going to be so great they need to try to control it. And
I think the Dodgers might have even been a little surprised on how big the
media response has been since they signed O Toddy, they knew it'd be big.
I don't know if they thought it'd be this big. Multiple ghetto birds
and blim flying over Dodger Stadium next Fox. We're three hours out. Cresco
is up there, feel like Helendale Petrols, just like he was, like
ellen Dale or Orchard. There, it is there, it is every night.
It is pretty cool to be down here. And it's always something that
I guess we take for granted. But this year we're taking it less for
granted because we are the chosen media right in front of the dugout and everybody
else has roped away from us. We are like the big, fat,
rich guy in veils that's in the jacuzzi with the dolphins and stuff, when
nobody has a wristband like we got a ritz band. This is our moment.
They are staring at us like how the hell them guys get down.
I know they are in the world. And look at Don Mar cut them
below the knees. Don's on a cell phone like Scott Boris and his outfits
showing out. You see that he just shined his shoes on his jeans.
He was like, I've got a little bit of dust on him. Let
me just kind of spit shot him here, gonna get it going. I
mean those things they're they are single buckle. That is like, you want
to talk about going to a leather Tanner. Yeah, he went to with
those things, right weather Tanner? No, Doug, can I get a
belt to match? I want to tie the whole outfit together, Dives,
I have these leathers made for me and knots very farm. Have you been
to the Boys and Berry Festival? It's beautiful? Yah, look at that.
There you go Rodney exactly, And we still are looking forward to talking
to Dave Roberts Andrew Friedman as as Freddie Freeman just emerges from the dugout talk
to We talked to Tino Evil. Rodney's pretty great an he's player or a
coach the name he's about to Freddy's here to do his drills with Dino Eban.
He talked to Dino in the first segment of the show, as Rodney
got him over in much the same fashion by just screaming his name very loudly.
I don't want to have to deal with this guy. In the next
talk, you see see how that particular group of media approach the Freddie Freeman
emergants from the dugout. They just went right into his face and stuck their
thumb in. It something to you, Freddy. I'm in the international media,
but I want to give you a thumbs up right in your making Freddy
laugh pretty hard. But what Dino did say was that that clubhouse right now
is pretty live. A lot of electricity and anticipation in that Dodger clubhouse.
Not a lot of young players or rookies, but certainly a lot of anticipation
and excitement. And fred has made a bold prediction that the Dodgers are going
to win this game. Kill him like you didn't. You're not going so
far to go to no hope like you did the padres No. But they're
gonna punish him today. They're gonna message freak him out. Oh he's got
his javelins that the three Javelins said hello, Yeah, just doubt at it.
He did. Yeah, Fast looking has like a friend in the media.
That was the guy to put his thumb in Freddie's face, and Dave
immediately went over and started talking to him. And now looking fast that with
Carvey? Who is that say talking to Now Fred's replaced? No sleeping with
the enemy, Robert, what's going on? I've just shot an intruder.
Why are you looking away? I'm so confused. I'm not familiar with what
you're talking. You know what's said? Honestly? What's that song by Chicago?
Look Away Baby, look away? What's said is if I'm really Starvey
walking back? I don't watch Channel four. I just don't. It's a
lie. No, it's not a lie. And I had no idea who
that was. And that's awful, and I apologize. I should have known.
You think she wants me for the challenge or do you think my time
is passed? I think if you're a guy that plays golf Latino and on
YouTube, he's not a challenge because that's a star Manolo. I think that
guy's are meeting Yeah, I think he is. Yeah, Yeah, that's
not how he portrays golf instructor to pro I portrayed myself as a football expert,
and we all know that's a lie. I've been lying for years.
Yeah, I'm not I'm not sure that will happen. All right, Well,
all right, I got so I shot pitch myself to her, like,
hey, you know there's sick teen years of tape of me doing that
show that there. I think Mario is still doing it. Oh okay,
well maybe he's gonna sit there with her. Maybe and they're gonna chop it
up. I hope. So you know what, that would make it a
free show. A free show, well already on the books. Oh okay,
yes, I understand what you're saying. All right, we're live at
Dodger Stadium, all four of US opening day, bred Rogan Rodney. I'm
not gonna go internew money yourself. No, I don't. I think it'll
make you jealous. No, I think you should. Petros Yeah, God,
were you talking to her? What was said? The problem was I
didn't even know who she was, So go introduce yourself, Freddy. You
know, come on, I really didn't know. I haven't talk today that
farst you played with the sister. Come on, all right, let me
don't it sold my intelligence. Carlo. At first you played with my sister.
Come on, good one. You don't know all right,